August 2010

*Adam Jones and Brian Roberts are back in the lineup. Jones got some treatment and felt better yesterday, Roberts had an MRI on Monday and it came back as well as could be expected, according to manager Buck Showalter. Roberts (hip strain) took pregame batting practice and was a late addition, but he’s good to go..

Update: The Orioles are expected to bring up three guys, Robert Andino, Nolan Reimold and Brandon Snyder on Wednesday. Pitchers will come later since the Os have a well-rested pen and can bring up an extra arm whenever they want.

Since Andino is not on the 40-man roster the Orioles will probably take Frank Mata or Armando Gabino off.

Chris Tillman is starting tonight in Norfolk and isn’t a lock to come up and join the rotation. He struggled last start and if he has another short stint, the O’s could rethink adding him. It’s an important outing to keep an eye on.

Brian Roberts and Adam Jones are in the lineup. Roberts (hip strain) was day-to-day following Monday’s off day and was clearing following pregame batting practice.

Given that Julio Lugo to a hit to the head over the weekend (although a CAT scan came back OK) and Roberts’ uncertainty, Andino will be up to provide some emergency depth. He’s not on the 40-man, so a move will have to be made there.

The Orioles are expected to call up a few players tomorrow, and then wait until Norfolk’s season ends next week to bring up the rest. Chris Tillman and Nolan Reimold are expected to be recalled, with left Troy Patton another possibility to help boost the pen. Keep in mind the Orioles are going to need innings and Patton can be used in long relief to give the Os some length. Current long man Rick VandenHurk is expected to get a few starts so if Patton comes up, he would presumably take his place

While Manny Ramirez was busy making headlines on his way to Chicago, Orioles top Draft pick Manny Machado was making his debut for short-season Aberdeen.

Machado worked out with the IronBirds on Sunday and started at shortstop for his short-season debut tonight. He went 1-for-3 at the plate and hit third in Aberdeen’s 11-5 loss to Vermont. As I wrote in today’s inbox, Machado will be with the team until their season ends with Sept. 5’s finale.

*Third overall pick Manny Machado went 0-for-3 with a strikeout today in the Orioles Gulf Coast League game. Machado served at DH and is expected to play the field next week. He’s been working out with offensive coordinator and roving infield instructor Mike Bordick, who has been impressed in his first look at the 18-year-old Machado.

*Jim Johnson will be activated for tonight’s game in Anaheim. Manager Buck Showalter said he would try to stay away from going back-to-back with Johnson, but he’s not going to baby him either. Showalter said they wouldn’t have activated him if he wasn’t a full-go, so expect him to be in the back half of the bullpen soon, if not right away.

Johnson (right elbow inflammation) is on the 60-day disabled list and
will need to be added to the team’s 40-man roster. Given that Jason
Berken is done for the season with a slight tear in his right labrum,
the expected move is to shift him from the 15 to the 60-day DL.

*Chris Tillman struggled for Triple-A Norfolk last night, allowing six earned runs on eight hits and not making it out of the third inning. Still, the 22-year-old Tillman is expected to be a September callup. Prior to last night, he had been pitching well at Norfolk and it’s time for the Orioles, and new manager Buck Showalter, to see what they have in Tillman.

*Double-A Bowie’s win last night pushes the Baysox to 69-62 on the season, though
they remain 1 1/2 games behind Harrisburg for third place and the final
playoff spot in the Eastern League’s Western Division. The O’s are hoping the Baysox can make the postseason, and it would provide an easy place for David Hernandez (left ankle sprain) to get in a rehab outing or two.

*I wrote last night about Jake Arrieta’s struggle with location, but here are some numbers that might have gotten lost along the way. In 83 Major League innings, he has issued 46 walks against 39
strikeouts. Arrieta has walked at least two batters in all 15 of his
starts — he has walked four or more in five outings. Last night, he issued three free passes in the first inning and while he only escaped with one run, it’s still something that needs to be addressed, and improved upon, for next season.

“You look at his history and his track record in the Minor Leagues, he didn’t have as much of a problem,” Showalter said of Arrieta’s location issues. “Guys are more selective up here. They tick off some two-strike pitches and they make you make them again and again. It’s part of the process but we’ve also seen some really good things from him. You can see that at times that he really grasps it. Stuff is not an issue.”

*One final sidenote: I won’t be in Anaheim as I’m in Grand Rapids, Michigan for a friend’s wedding this weekend instead. If you’re keeping track at home, that’s my second wedding in two weekends. But, as always all your Orioles news and notes will be on the website and in the very capable hands of associate reporter Evan Drellich.

*As I blogged earlier, Adam Jones was a late scratch, with the new lineup below.

*The Orioles are expected to activate Jim Johnson for Friday’s opener in Anaheim, making Armando Gabino the likely choice to be optioned back to Triple-A Norfolk. Johnson was on the 60-day DL, meaning he needs to be added back to the 40-man roster. Johnson could take the 40-man spot of Jason Berken, who is done for the season.

*Adam Jones is out of the lineup again, although he feels much better. (He made sure I mention that.) Seriously though, he’s having trouble running and really moving around still and will take another day off.

*Chris Tillman is expected to be recalled as part of September callups, but he likely won’t pitch out of the bullpen and will join the Orioles rotation.

*It’s becoming increasingly less likely that Zach Britton will come up in September. There were reports that he would, and the Orioles can still go that way, but given that Tillman will come up and push it to a six-man rotation, it makes no sense to have Britton come up and sit the bench, or push it to a 7-man rotation. Britton will make his next scheduled start Aug. 30 in Norfolk and will most likely stay on schedule down there to end the season. Keep in mind the Orioles have a bunch of off days and to bring up Britton would really give guys too much rest. Plus, Britton isn’t on the 40-man roster and Orioles officials are leaning toward having him finish in Triple-A and obviously came back strong for Major League Spring Training.

*Orioles offensive coordinator and infield instructor Mike Bordick has been working with top Draft pick Manny Machado in Sarasota, Fla and giving manager Buck Showalter some positive reports. Showalter added that Bordick is usually a tough grader, and while Machado is shaking off some rust, he’s been progressing well in his workouts. Machado could get some at-bats in a GCL game by the end of this week, but probably won’t play the field until next week.

I’ll go into more detail on this later on, but here’s a quick look at where the Orioles arms are at as of Thursday afternoon.

Brian Matusz- Following last night’s seven innings, he’s at 144 2/3 innings pitched. He tossed 157 2/3 innings last season.Jake Arrieta – Tonight’s starter, Arrieta is at 142 innings and career high is 150 2/3. Brad Bergesen-is at 138 innings and 165 1/3 innings is his career high from 08. Last season ended after taking the liner to his shin at the end of July.Zach Britton- Following last night’s start at Triple-A Norfolk is 142 1/3 innings pitched. Was at 140 last season, and his career high is 147 in ’08.Chris Tillman – 161 2/3 innings last season. Is at 137 entering tonight’s start in Triple-A Norfolk.

So, if we’re talking September callups and a six-man rotation –which hasn’t been decided on yet — it makes the most sense to insert Tillman into the rotation. The O’s have Rick VandenHurk who can also start, but he would need to be stretched out given how little he’s been used out of the ‘pen.

Britton could be a bullpen candidate, or the Orioles could have him make 3 or 4 starts up here and shut him down. He only threw 5 2/3 innings last night, which was more a result of a high pitch count.

CHICAGO– Orioles reliever Jim Johnson came through Tuesday’s two-inning stint with Double-A Bowie with no reported problems and he is expected to be activated for Friday’s series in Anaheim.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter spoke with Johnson on Wednesday and said the right-hander didn’t experience any residual effects, which was the team’s only real concern. Johnson allowed one hit over two scoreless innings on Tuesday, striking out three, and will provide a boost to an Orioles bullpen currently without David Hernandez and Jason Berken.

Showalter said he wouldn’t hesitate to have Johnson (right elbow inflammation) throw multiple innings if needed, but he will try to stay away -initially at least — from using him on back-to-back days.

“But if the situation presents itself to, we feel confident using him period,” Showalter said of Johnson, who hasn’t appeared in a Major League game since April 30. “We wouldn’t bring him up if we didn’t think he was a go-guy. We will put him in the fire if we had to.”

Since Johnson is on the 60-day disabled list, the Orioles will need to clear a space on the 40-man roster with Berken the obvious choice. Berken is done for the season after an MRI earlier this month revealed a slight tear in his right labrum and rotator cuff inflammation.

*As expected Jim Johnson will be activated for Friday’s series opener in Anaheim.

*David Hernandez threw a bullpen session in Saraosta today with no reported problems. They are working toward him throwing live batting practice on Sept. 1, according to manager Buck Showalter. Hernandez said yesterday he was hoping to return early next month and the Orioles will probably have him pitch at Bowie or Frederick in a rehab outing first.

*Adam Jones is out of the lineup but is available if needed. Jones took a fastball to his left shoudler blade last night and is still pretty sore.

*Luke Scott’s right foot had a nice bruise on it –after fouling off a ball in the fifth inning last night– but the O’s dodged a bullet and he’s back in the lineup today.

CHICAGO– Orioles outfielder Adam Jones exited Tuesday’s series opener against the White Sox prior to the start of the bottom of fourth inning. Jones was hit in the upper back by Chicago’s starter Gavin Floyd in the top of the frame, and went on to score as part of a two-run inning. He was later ruled to have a left shoulder contusion.

Jones took the field for the fourth inning, but came off during warm-ups, with manager Buck Showalter and head athletic trainer Richard Bancells meeting him several yards in front of the dugout. Felix Pie moved from left field to assume Jones’ spot, with Corey Patterson taking over duties in left.

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